Yarn-carrier guide and transfer mechanism for straight-knitting machines



Apn 14, 1931.

w. F. RoLs-roN 1,800,320

YARN CARRIER GUIDE AND TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed Jan. 20, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l APY 14, 1931 w. F; RoLs'roN Y 1,800,320

vYARN CARRIER GUIDE AND TRANSERMECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING IACHINES Original Filed Jan. 20, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 AIGHT KNTTTING MACHINES April 14, 1931. w. FA RoLsToN YARN CARRIER GUIDE AND TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR STR 4 Sheet s-Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan. 20, 1926 April 14, 1931. w. F, ROLSTON 1,800,320 YARN CARRIER GUIDE AND TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR STRAGHT KNITTING MACHINES Original Filed Jan. 20, 1926, 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 llmmunmml guummulnw' 1f a Hoznmj Patented Apr. 14, 1951 ETS WALTER r. noteren, or nocxronn, iLLnvors, Assierony rro BUnsoN KNiTTING A00M- im, centenarios; orirminors vaan-casarse eUinn AND ,TRANSFER MEcHANIsM non STRAIGHT-KNITTING africaines `Original application filed. January 20,

` s, leas.'

This is a division of my application Serial No. 82,388 filed January 20, 1926, Patent No. 1,767,480, for yarn changing mechanism'.

rlhe present invention relates to straight knitting machines and has more particular reference to mechanism'for guiding the active yarn to the needles,l holding the inactive yarns and changing the yarns Among the objects of my invention are to provide an improved yarn-carrier guide and an improved transfer device. .'lhese improvements are 'factors in promoting finer knitting and in reducing wear and breakage of parts.

'lhe present improvements overcome cer- `ain objections to certain straight type kniting machines by the provision of a novel yarn arrier supporting and guiding structure characterized in the preferred embodiment y a stationary yarn-carrier-guide or rail po-r sitioned above the needle beds and providing exceptionally rigid, broad bearing surfaces on which to support and guide the active yarn-carrier. Through this yarn-carrier c.) c+ fr mounting, which will be more fully-described' hereinafter, the distributor eye and plow latch openers of the yarn-carrier are maintained with extreme accuracy in the proper proximity and relationship to the needles lof both beds. ly reason of absolute accuracy in travel of the yarn-carrier l am enabled to guide both the distributor eye and the pointsv of the latch openers closer to theneedles, thus allowing the use of needles with finer hooks or of smaller dimensions generally, and consequently to secure a liner quality of knitting. Also there is less wear because of the nature of the yarn-carrier mounting, and cause for breakage is recuced to a minimum.'

Another advantage of this phase of my in vention is that l am enabled to employ a simplified transfer device having supplemental yarncarrier rails, one for each yarn-carrier, adapted to be moved respectively intoalignment with the stationary rail and to facilitate the movement ofy any yarn-carrier back andv stationary rails. Still another advantage is that the end of the stationary rail adjacent to the transfer device may overhang or exforth upon and between the supplemental and 1ste, seria?. no. 82,358.

sei-iai no. 310,963.

Divided and this application filed October tend beyond the needle bed such an extent asto provide a full mounting for the yarn-carrier before it starts to function, thus insuragainst any `disalignment tendencies or difliculties at the transfer or during the initial the 'knitting of 'a so-called split sole stocking in which a suture occurs between the sole which is knit with onekind of yarn and the top portion of the foot which is knit with an'- other yarn. lt is also especially applicable to the knitting of the high splice above theY heel, this being a suture knitting, preferably with a yarn diiferent from that employed 'in knitting the sole portion.

Still another object is to provide a simpliltied and improved mechanism whichV will be thoroughly practical `for the .purposes intended. i

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated by those skilled in this art as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l, is a vertical cross-sectional view Athrough the bed of a straight knitting lmachine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section lon'- gitudinally'through the machine taken substantially on the line 9J-#2 of Fig. l,sliowing inelevation the transfer device and yarncarrier guide and parts associated therewith;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the needle beds at the transfer` end of the Inachine;

General construction in the present case l have, for purpose tration merely, shown my improvepplied to a straight knitting maopposed beds of needles and more p y to one `forming the subject matter or certain of my co-pending applications. For example, the particular bed structure and needle-operating mechanism shownherein is the subject of my application Serial No. 76,142 filed December 18, 1925; the transfer device in certain respects is part of my application Serial No. 681,989 iiled Becember 21, 1928 ,and certain features ot the yarn-changing mechanism are claimed in my application Serial No. 82,888 iiled January 20, 1926, ot which the present application is a division. 1t should be eX- pressly understood, howev r, that my present improvements are in no way coniined to use with the inventions disclosed and claimed in said applications. It should be understood, therefore, that those parts and devices disclosed herein not directly claimed or essential to the present invention, are intended merely for purpose of clarity in illustratingthe present improvements.

rlhe bed construction and needle operating mechanism shown in Fig. 1 will be brieily described. The bed plates 11 and 12 carry opposed beds of needles in the angular rela- V; tion shown delining a throat, which is well known in straight knitting machine. 0n each bed plate is carried a. series of spaced division plates 18 between which are mounted needle supports 14, needles 15, needle jacks 16, jack housings 17, and pattern levers 18.

The needles are held down on their supports by filler springs 19 which in turn are retained in position by a. sinker bed 21. The sinkers 22 are of the usual construction retained in iosition by a sinker cap 28. The sinker cam bar 24 and the needle cam bar slide 25 are adapted to be reciprocated for advancing and retracting the sinkers and needles. The pattern levers 18 are adapted to be actuated by pattern cylinders 26 'for throwing the needles into and out of action as explained in my application Erst above-mentioned. The bed plates 11 and 12 are supported at each end or in any suitablemanner by a frame structure one end 27 oi which is shown in Fig. 2.

Yarn carrier guide As described briefly above I have provided means 'or supporting and guiding the active yarn-carrier in extremely accurateV relation to the needles, this being accomplished primarily by the provision of a stationary guide rail designated generally by 28 positioned above and parallel with the needle beds and extending beyond both ends thereof. This rail is preferably rectangular in cross-section with its longer sides in al vertical plane so as to provide comparatively broad bearing surfaces on which to support and guide the yarncarriers. Said railshould be accurately located and rigidly supported with respect to il e needle beds, this being accomplished, in "he present instance, by a plurality of brack- -ts 29 fnedly attached to one side of the rail ind at their opposite ends fixed to the bed tructure, these brackets being arched as shown in 1 to clear the parts below and )eing suitably spaced longitudinally of the ied to give proper support to the rail (only one bracket being' shown in this instance).

ln the preferred embodiment oit n y invention only a single yarn-carrier is in action at one time, the remaining yarn-carriers being held on' thetrans'ter carriage which will be presentlyY described. These yarn-carriers being identical in construction 4description ot one will surlice. 2 the yarn-carrier proper designated generally by I8,1 is of the usual. construction including the yarn distributor eye 82 and plow latch openers 88. The' sides84 of the yarn-carrier proper are turned up and iixedly attached through the agency of a coupling connection 85 to a slide block 86 iitted to slide on three faces of the stationary rail 28. Bearing plates or gibs 8"? and 88 engage the Jfourth side or the rail 28 and are attached to theblock 86 so as to retain the latter on the rail without interference with the rail-supporting brackets 29, the bearing plate 88 being yieldingly held in position by springs 89 so as to impose a slight friction between the slide 86 and the rail and to insure pro-pei' seating ot the slide on the rail.

The yarn-carrier slide is adapted to be recipro-cated on the rail by means of a pushand-pull nger 41 adjustably attached to a driver head 42 mounted to slide on the rail 28 in a manner similar to the slide 86, except that a spring tension between the head and rail is not necessary. rJChe driver head is in turn adapted to be reciprocated through the agency of a link 48 connected to the usual rocking lever (not shown) such as described in lmy application Serial No. 76,142 above mentioned or any suitable means for imparting reciprocating 'motion rlhe linger 41 has a downturned end 44 adapted to have pushing contact against an upstandingabutment 46 both attached to the yarn-carrier is shown in Figs. 1 and slide 36 in spaced relation so as to allow a lostmotion connection between the ldriver' head and slide. rIhe driver head 42l will be reciprocated by the means described in my said pending application for moving the slide 8G from the rail 28 onto a supplemental rail 5l described hereinafter. Said supplemental rail 6l, part of a transfer mechanism also described later, is adapted to be shifted laterally to move its yarn carrier out of registration with the rail 28 and position another supplemental rail with its yarn-carrier in registration with said rail 28 so that the latter yarn-carrier may be moved onto'said rail and into action by the forward movement of the driver head 42. rllhe lost-motion connection referred to allows for this change of yarn-carrier without interruption of the regular reciprocation of the driver' head, the change being made, of course, at the transfer end of the stroke.'l

It will be observed that the end 47 of the rail 28 extends beyond the adjacent end of Vthe needle beds a. distance equal to or greater than the length of the slide 35, the purpose of this being to provide a full and substantial support for the slide and consequently the yarn-carrier before the latter actually starts to function. rllhis is a distinct advantage in that there is no 'danger or tendency for the yarn-carrier to be displaced by reaso-n of the transferring action or of disalignment conditions incidental to its mounting.

With the foregoing construction the yarncarrier is so mounted and supported that its distributor eye will lay the yarn with eXtreme precision in the hooks of the needles and there is no danger or tendency for displacement either laterally or vertically. vLikewise the plow latch openers are guided with extreme accuracy and may. .be positioned in closer proximity to the needles so as to improve their functioning without, however, danger ,of striking and breaking latches or failing to function by reason of displacement from such predetermined position.

` Transfer device The transfer device proper disclosed herein is an improvement on that disclosed in my second above-mentioned application and reference may be had to the latter which dis-v closes mechanism for shifting the transfer vcarriage in step-by-step movements to pergear 51 fixed to a shaft 5.2.Which in tnrn is journaled in a suitable bracket 53 mounted on the frame 27 and which has fixed thereto a transfer carriage at present in the form of a wheel designated generally by 54. A brake band 55 embraces a drum 56 fixed to the shaft 52 as shown in Fig. 7. The ends of the brake drum areassociated withk a stationary lug 57 on the bracket 53 and connected thereto by a bolt 58 carrying av coiled spring 59 adapted to urge the band against the drum and thus impose friction on the latter so as to instantly stopthe transfer carriage after each transfer movement imparted bythe- Vin longitudinal alignment with the stationary I rail 28 by rotative movement of the transfer carriage. As shown in Fig. 2 thetransfer carriageis slotted to receive one end of each supplemental rail; and suitable means may be employed for rigidly securing suoli `rail to the carriage. This View also shows each supplemental rail extending into such proximity to the adjacent end of the stationary rail that a yarn-carrier slide may ino-ve from one rail onto anotherin either direction, it being manifest that when fully positioned on its supplemental rail the transfer carriage may be oscillated to withdraw one yarn-carrier from the position in alignment with the stationary rail and locate another yarn-carrier at such po-sitionso that it may be moved onto the stationary rail and-into action. For convenience the yarn-carrier at the position in alignment with the stationary rail will be referred to hereinafter as the active yarncarrier and those at the other positions spaced around the Vtransfer carriage as the inactive yarn-carriers.

As described in my second above-mentioned application the transfer carriage will be operated to perform ythe desired transferring operations, that is, to' move the different yarn-carriers in predetermined order to the active position in which the respective yarncarrier may be moved into action by the driver head.

It will be manifest that the purpose of theI several yarn-carriers is to carry different yarns so that 'each may be presented to the needles at the proper times. In the present `machine I employ Vfour yarn-carriers which' ioo `will be no tangling or v' I have designated and will refer to as Nos. l, 2, 3, and 4l, this particular' number bein? desired for he knitting of a split sole stocking although as above-mentioned a greater or lesser number of yarn-carriers might be employed on a sfer carriage of this chai'- acter, or with my invention, according tothe particular knitting problem at hand. lt is customary to feed ther` yarn to the yarn-cai'- i'ie s from overhead and in 2 fil-own a yarn 62 e; ending down o iiectlI to the l'lo. l yarn-carrier which is in the active position on the stationary rail, and a second yarn extending from its overhead source through an opening '5ft in a guard plate 85,'tlieiice through the distributor eye he No. 3 carrier, and thence through a holding nient f which will be presently de cribed) to vthe needles.

Yarn holding means The nurpose of the yarir` to hold the yarns il om th riers out of the path of the and to so hold and retain ine-ans is ctive yarn-caractive yarn-,carrier e yarns that there i Jhereof with the yarn-carriers other parts by reason of the transfer operations. rlhis problem presents difliculties especially when ono of the yarns to be held einanates from the die bed at an intermediate point at a suture point when knitting a split sole stocking', or when three different yarns are used in lrnitting a sutured fabric of this kind, or when three or more different yarns are used. Vhile thispliase of my invention is claimed in my application Serial No. 82,388, above inentioned, it is here shown and described because it serves to better illustrate an application of the invention claimed herein to actual worliing conditions. ln the present embodiment of this phase of my invention l employ a pair of primary holding' elements in the form of hoolrs 88 and 87 disposed beneath the active position of the transfer device, and more particularly at opposite sides of and in close proximity to the path of the distributor eye '32 of yarn-carrier located at said active transfer position. The normal location of these holding elements is clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5 from which it will be seen that the hooked ends of such elements eX- tend upwardlyV and inwardly into the path of the depressions at each side of the distributor eye nose and consequently, above the point at which the yarn einanates from said distributor eye, also that said hooked ends are located intermediate the distributor eye (shown in dotted lines in Fig', 5) and the si point 68 at which certain inactiveyarns leave the needles. lt is apparent that the holding elements 66 and 67 are in the of the yarns extending between the point vt8 and distributor eye and that when the transfer carriage swings in either direction this yarn usual any suitable take-up device not sho loyed overhead onY the machine or tlose. ln the present embodiment of n the holding' elements 68 and 67 he nature of guiding means ad apted i unsevered yarn ext-ending fi lioloing this yarn in such will not interfere with the ed so th sn on just described, preferably to a loivev ed position out of the pathwhich the yarn movement oL the particular transfer carriage herein employed. ln the present embodiment this i. accomplished by iixedly mounting said. holding` elements 68 and 67 on one end of l 1' desinietof generally by G9 which is at l on the bracket 53. Suitable such as a spring 72 fixed at one end pivot screw 7l and bearing downwardly at 78 on the rear end of the lever serves to constantly urge the forward end of the lever upwardly to locate the holding elements G6 l 6? in the said normalposition which is Aited bythe le er striking an adjustable suon 7 4 on the bracket 53. Y

By rocking` said lever 69 to lower said holding elements the latter will be withdrawn from said arcuate path of the yarn soas to be inactive as regards intercept-ing any yarn passing' laterally theieover during' transfer eration but without releasing` any yarn or yarns held by such holding elements. The purpose of this is to permit one or more predetermined yarns being' transferred to pass said primary holding' elements .and be intercepted and held by either of a pair of supplemental holding' elements '.75 and 76 which are suitably mounted, preferably in fired position, in this instance on the end eX- tensions of the sinker beds 2l and located substantially in the same transverse plane as the primary holding elements.

Anyl suitable means may be provided for witlidrevwing` the primary holding` elements from their normalposition, such for example, as a cam 77 on the transfer carriage 5l adapted for actuating an Vextension 78 on the lever 69 for depressing the forward end of said es in an arc by reason of the lever. One or more cams of this character might be employed on the transfer carriage for rocking the lever Y69 at predetermined times to render the holding elements and 67 operative or inoperative for engaging yarn being transferred at lcertain times. While "s operation of theprimary hol'l. y by movement of the transfer fau riage is exceptionally simple and direct and lends itself particularly well to timing such operation by location of the actuating cam 'T7 in juxtaposition to the particular jgf'arnoarrier whose yarn it is desired not to .be enw gaged by the primary holding element-s, nevertheless it should be understood that such holding elementsl or the equivalent might be automatically operated froinany suitable source. lt will be apparent, viewing Fig. 4l, that when the primary holding Ylei ments are depressed the transferring yarn when swung in either direction in the path indicated by the arc 79will be intercepted by either one or the vother of the suppleniental holding elements 'landl according to the ,f direction of the transfer.

*The purpose of the supplemental yarn holding .elements which are spaced farther from the center line or throatof the machine than the primary yarn holding` elements is to holdV a yarn at the transfer end of the bed farther away from the throat ateither sid thereof and in a position extending across thepath ofa hooked finger, of which there are two, designated by 8l and-82,v which move with the driver head. rlhe'particular yarn soto be engaged by one of said hooked fingers is onefwhich emanates from the needles, as ata suture point 83, Fig. 3. In this vview/tlvie yarn- 84, carried bythe No. 2 yarn-carrier, extends across thepath of the hooked finger 8l which is shown in aposition closeto the transfer end of the machine. Said vhooked fingers -are'preferably attached to the driverv head 42 and consequently, are mounted to travel on the stationary rail 28 ywith the samY ldegree of accuracy as the yarn-carrier although separate therefrom. As the driver head travels forward, that is, to the left viewing Fig. 3, the hooked finger 8l will engage the `yarn 84 and draw it to the outer sine of a ryarn-retaining element 85 vwhich at present is in the form of a straight length of wire spaced inwardly from the inner edge of the adjacent sinker cap 23 just sufficient to allow a path Afor the point of the linger 8l and to provide .with'said edge of the sinkercap a narrow retaining groove for vthe yarn 84. This wire-retaining element 85 entends lengthwise of the bed from the transfer end tothe suture point 83, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and is turned inwardly at said transfer end so as'to provide a `converging mouth to facilitate entrance of the' yarn into said retaining groove. A' similar yarn-retaining elenientSG is provided on the opposite bed with which the hooked finger 82, which is similar to the linger 8l, cooperates, both retaining elements 85 and 86 being suitably supported in a fixed position as, for example,

by short curved arms 90 fixed to the adj acent sinker cap 23. lt will be manifest from the foregoing that when a yarn is laid across the path of either hooked linger 8l or 82 as when suchv yarn is held by either the supplemental holding elements 75 or Z6 respectively, such yarn will he drawn into the groovebehind the respec/ire retaining element 85 or 8G, as the case may be, from the transfer end of the machine to the suture point, and will be so held in an out-of-the-way or inactive position while the knitting may be carried on with Yanother yarn. An example of such knitting will now be given.

i for the knitting of any sutured yfabric orany fabric in which different yarns are used separately in the knitting. of a. complete course,

thatis, in which each yarn knits only a. portion of the course. rlihese conditions are eirenipliiied in the knitting of a split sole stocking, which will now be considered, this eitample being substantially the same as dis cussed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 681,989, in which the operation and control of a. transfer device handling four yarncarriers is described. Referring to Fig. l0 and considering th knitting of an entire fashioned, seamless, split sole stocking, the No. 1 yarn-carrier is used for knitting the toe, bottom portion or sole of the foot, and the heel, the yarn being usually of a heavy grade and more durable than that vused for the upper portion of the stocking. bottom of the foot portion between the points 87 and 88 the No. l and No. 2 yarn-carriers will` be used alternately, thus knitting a sutured fabric, the No. 2 yarn being of a different grade or quality from the No. l yarn; for example, in knitting a silk stocking the No. 2 yarn would be silk. The heel pocket, that is, between the points 89 and 91 will be knit with the No. l yarn in the usual manner.l Following this the No. 3 yarn-carrier will be brought into action alternately with the No. 2 yarn-carrier for knitting the portion of stocking known as the high splice up to the point 92. The No. 3 yarn may beeither a heavy silk or an admixture of silk and cotton so as to give more durable wearing quality at this portion and yet present the same stocking.

ing is then knit with theNo. 2 yarn by roundandround knitting, in this instance, the` stocking being fashioned in the knitting. This knitting is carried to any suitable length, such as to the point 93, when the No. .t "o

In knitting the top and 4l. yarn-carrier is brought into action. This yarn-carrier is generally for cotton yarn and knits what is known as a gar-er or boot top.

While the No. l yarn is beingr employed in round-and-round knitting of the toe the remaining yarns N os. 2, 3 and 4 will emanate from the needle bed at the points 68 (Fig. 5), the No. 2 yarn (designated above by 84) being heldby the supplemental holding element 75, and the Nos. 3 and l yarns (the former being indicated above by 63) being held by the primary holding element 66 and eX- tending around the transfer device to their respective yarn-carriers, these yarns being further guided in the recesses flanking the sides of the distributor eye noses of the preceding yarn-carriers.

After the toe has been completed the transfer carriage will oscillate one position in a clockwise direction, Viewing Figs. 4l and 8, thus moving the No. 2 yarn-carrier to the active position shown lin 8. t t ie initial trans-fer movement the No. l yarn will be engaged in the primary holding' element 67 and subsequently the cam will depress the primary yarn-holding elements from their normal position as above described, in which position they will be held while the No. 2 yarn-carrier is in the active position.

From this point on the actual knitting of the sutured fabric with the Nos. l and 2 yarncarriers and the 2 and 3 yarn-carriers will be better understood by reference to 9 which shows diagrammatically plan cf the front bed of needles designated by A-B the back bed by CD, also the location of the suture point 83 and the yarn-,retaining elements 85 and 86. Ordinary round-and round knitting is from A. to B, termed the forward stroke on the front bed, anc from C to D, the backward stroke on the back bed.

On the first forward stroke 'cf thel No. 2 yarn-carrier from its said active position on the transfer carriage its yarn will be knit by the needles on the front bed from the suture point 83 to B and on the backward stroke en the back bed from C to 83, then on the nest forward stroke on the back bed from 83 to C and on the backward stroke on the front becfrom B to 83. It will'berunderstood tha during this knitting the needles from A anc D to 83 are held out of action by the pattern mechanism which forms no part ofthe present invention. At the end of this backware stroke the transfer carriage will'shift one position in a counter-clockwise direction, thus carrying` the No. 2 yarn clear of the depressed primary yarn-holding elements and into the supplemental yarn-holding element 75,`and returning the No. l yarn to the, active position. At this stage in the knitting the Nos. l and2 yarns, 62 and 64 resnectively,are shown in Fig. 3. On the next forward stroke the hooked finger 81 which precedes the No. l yarn-carrier will draw the yarn 84- back of the yarn-retainer 85 so that this yarn will be held at one side of the throat as described above. stroke will knit on the front bed from- A to the suture point 83, then on the backward stroke on the front bed from said point 83 to A, then on the next succeeding forward stroke on the back bed from D lte 83, and finally on the backward stroke on the back bed from 83 to D; At the end of this backward stroke the transfer carriage will shift again in a clockwise direction, thus hooking the No. l yarn under theprimary yarn-holding element 67 and bringing the No. 2 yarn-carrier into theV active position. This cycle will then be repeated until the end cf the split sole portion designated by 88 is reached.

The heel pocket from 89 to 91 will next be knit in the usual manner by the No. l yarncarrier, and at the finish the transfer carriage will oscillate in a clockwise direction so as to return the No. 2 yarn-carrier to the active position.

vThe high splice from 91 to 92 will now be knit by alternating operation of the Nos. 2 and 3 yarn-carriers. The first operation in this particular example is to knit with the No. 2 yarn on the forward stroke on the front bed from 83 to B and then on the backward stroke on the back bed from C to 83. At the end of thisbackward stroke the transfer carriage will shift one position in a clockwise direction to bring the No. 3 yarn-carrier into the active position. At the initial part of this transfer Aoperation the No. 2 yarn will clear the primary yarn-hooking elements which are held in the down position bythe cam 77 and will be caught by the supplemental yarn-holding element 76,*thus drawing the No. 2 yarn (84) across the path of the hooked finger 82 so that on the nextrforward stroke said hooked finger will draw this yarn behind the retaining element 86 to retain it at the back side of the throat. On this forward stroke the No. 3 yarn knits cn the back bed from Dto 83, then on the backward stroke on the back bed from 83 to D, then on the forward stroke on the front bedfrom A to 83, and iinally on the backward stroke on the front bed from83 to A. At the end of .this backwardstroke thetransfer carriage shifts one position in a counter-clockwise direction to bring the No. 2 yarn-carrier into the active position. At the beginning of this transfer operation the No. 3 yarn will be caught and held by the primaryholding element 66 whereupon said holding element will be depressed by the cam 77 and the No. 2 yarn will clear the primary holding element 67. The No. 2 yarn will start knitting on the forward stroke on the back needles from' 83 to C, then on the forward stroke'on the front bed from B to 83, then on the next succeeding The No. l yarn on this forward f forward stroke on,v the front bed from .83 to B, and finally on the backward stroke on the back bed from C to 83. At the end of this back-ward stroke the ytransfer carriage will shift again one position ina clockwise direction, thus returning the No.3 yarn carrier to the active position. The'cycle just described will be'repeated until the high splice is finished. Y y Y Following this the leg portion and the garter top will be knit by round-and-round knitting with the Nos. 2 and 4 yarns, respectively. rlhe functioning of the yarn-holding elements during theknitting of these two portions of the fabric will be manifest from the foregoing description.

After completing the knitting of a stroke the last yarn carrier in operationis moved onto a rail on fthe transfer carriage and shifted thereby to an inactive position. During the following stroke of the head 42 away'from the Vtransfer carriage the needles of both banksvwill beprojected and in the absence of yarn being fed to such needles the latches will be closed so as to permit withdrawal vof the needles through the loops, thereby casting or shedding oil the loops and thus discharging the stocking,

it should beunderstood that the lforegoing illustrates merelya single embodiment of my invention andthat changes and modifications may be ymade without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as expressed in the appended claims, in-whi'ch-' I claim: Y

- l. ln a straight knitting machine, in combination, opposed beds of `needles defining a throat, a single rail having bearing faces for supporting and guiding a yarn-carrier slide, means rigidly supporting saidrail in a position above and parallel with said throat, a plurality of yarn-carrierfslides each adapted to be reciprocated onthe said bearing faces of said rail with its yarn-carrier supported in v predetermined vrelation vto the needles, means for reciprocating any slide onsaid rail, and a transfer mechanism 4having a plurality of supplemental yarncarrie r rails eachofthe same cross-section as said stationary rail for carrying a yarn-carrier slide and adaptedzto be respectively `moved l into longitudinal alignment with said: stationaryvrail, l.whereby a yarn-carrier yslide is adapted to be moved back and forth upon and 'between the stationary rail and any supplemental rail in alignment therewith. Y Y

Q. ln astraight knitting machine, in cambination, the needles, a single yarn-carrier rail supported in a lstationary position above the needles having bearino` faces on which any one of a plurality lof yarn-carriers -is adapted to be reciprocated, a transfer mechanism having a plurality of supplemental yarn-carrier rails adapted to be respectively moved intolongitudinal alignment withthe stationary railan1d a-yarn-`carrier adapted to be supported on each supplemental rail and to be moved from the latter onto the stationary rail when in alignment therewith and to be reciprocated on said stationary rail.

3. ln a straight knitting machine, in combination, the needles, a single stationary yarn-carrier rail positioned above the needles havingl bearing faces on which any one of a plurality of yarn-carriers* is adapted to bei vforinoving each yarn-carrier from its suppleinental rail onto the stationary rail wheny in alignment therewith. y K

4. in a straight knitting machine, in com? bination, single stationary yarn-carrier rail having bearing faces on which any one ofa plurality of yarn-carriers is adapted to pbe reciprocated, a transfer carriage equipped with a plurality of supplemental yarn-oar rier rails Vspaced in arcuate relation and adapted by oscillation of the carriage to be respectively positioned in alignment with the stationary rail, a Vyarn-carrier adapted to be carried on each supplemental rail, yand nieafns for moving each yarn-carrier from its sup-y plemental rail onto the stationary rail when in alignment with the latter. A

v5. In a `straight knitting machine, in combination, a bed of needles, a single statiom ary yarn-carrier rail positioned above and parallel with said bed having bearing faces on which any one of. a plurality-.of yarnf carriers is adapted Ito be reciprocatech a transfer device at one end ofthe needle bed having Aa plurality of supplemental railseach adapted for carrying `a yarn-carrier, said transfer device being adapted for moving each supplemental rail into alignment with thestationary rail, av yarn-carrier `for each supplemental rail, and means for moving each yarn-carrier from lits supplemental yrail onto thestationary rail-when in alignment 4themewith 4and for reciprlOCating such yarn-carrier on said stationary rail, the stationary rail at its end adjacent to the transfer device extend ing beyond the needles at said end a distance substantially equal tothelength of any yarncarrier mounting on the rai-l whereby such yarn-carrier will be wholly supported on the stationary rail before it is-brought into active cooperation with the needles.

6. ln a stra-ight knitting machine, incombination, a single guide rail having bearing surfaces on which any one of a plurality of yarn-carriers is adaptedto Lbe reciprocated for distributing yarn to the needles, and fa transfer .mechanism .having a plurality ,of

guide rails each adapted to carry a yarnr and to position any selected yarncar; er 1n registration with trie single guide rail so t the selected yarn-carrier may be :noved back and forth upon and from one guide rail to the other.- 1 u p 7. In a straight knitting machine, 1n conbination, a single guide rail having bear -g surfaces on which any one of a plurality of yarn-carriers is adapted tobe reciprocated for distributing yarn to the needles, and a transfer mechanism having a plurality of guide rails each adapted to carry a yarncarrier and to position any selected yarn-carrier in registration with the single guide rail so that the selected yarn-carrier may be moved back and forth upon and from one guide rail to the other, and a driver head mounted to slide on the single rail having contact connection with the yarn-carrier thereon for reciprocating in a strole in which the yarn-carrier moves upon and between the main guide rail and a guide rail of the transfer mechanism.

8. In a straight knitting machine, in combination, opposed beds of needles, a single guide rail having bearing surfaces on which any one of a plurality of yarn-carriers is adapted to be reciprocated for distributing yarn to the needles, and a yarn-carrier transfer mechanism at one end of the machine, said single guide rail extending' beyond the active needles at the transfer end of the machine a distance sufficient to fully support a yarn-carrier out of co-acting relation with the needles, said transfer mechanism having a plurality of guide rails each adapted to carry a yarn-carrier and being operable to position any guide rail in registration with the single guide rail so that a yarn-carrier' may be moved back and forth upon and JFrom one transfer guide rail to the main guide rail, and vice versa, such operation of the transfer device serving to substitute one of its guide rails for another in registration with the single guide rail.

9. In a straight knitting machine, in combination, bed of needles, a plurality of yarn-carriers each adapted to carry a'dif-v ferent yarn, a single rail having bearing surfaces on which any one of said yarn-carriers is adapted to be reciprocated w ien in action and from one end of which theyarn-car'rier is removable, a transfer device having a plurality of supplemental yarn-carrier rails adapted to be positioned one at a time in alignment with and in prozrimity'to the single rail, and means for moving a yarn-carrier from the single rail onto any supplemental rail in alignment therewith.

l0. In a straight knitting machine, in combinatioma bed of needles, a plurality of yarncarriers, a single rail having bearing surfaces on which any one of said yarn-carriers is adapted to be reciprocated when in action,

a transfer mechanism having a pfurality of yarn-carrier Vrails each adapted to carry yarn-carrier and to bc positioned one a time in alignment with the sin'gle rail, each yarn-carrier being movable from its transfer rail to the single rail and return, each yarn-carrier being reciprocable on the single rail to distribute yarn to the needles and being movable o of this rail onto a transfer rail, and the transfer mechanism being operable to substitute another transfer railrfor the one in alignment with the single rail.

11. In a straight knitting machine, in combination, opposed beds of needles, a single guide rail having bearing surfaces on which any one of a plurality of yarn-carriers is adapted to be reciprocated for distributing yarn to the needles, a driver head mounted to slide on the single rail for reciprocating the yarn-carrier thereon, and a. yarn-carrier transfer mechanism at one end of the machine havingr a plurality of' guide rails each adapted to carry a. yarn-carrier and being operable to position any guide rail in regis tration with the single guide rail so that'a yarri-carrier may be moved back and forth upon and from one transfer guide rail ytothe single guide rail and vice versa, such operation or the transfer device serving to substitute one of its guide rails for another in registration with the single guide rail, the driver head serving to reciprocate any yarncarrier in a. strolre in which the yarn-carrier moves upon and between the main guide rail and a transfer guideerail.

"12. In a straight knitting machine, in combination, opposed beds of needles, a singleguide rail on which any one of aplurality of yarn-carriers-isadapted.to .be reciprocated for distributing yarn to the neecles, a driver head mounted to slideon the single rail for reciprocating the yarn-carrier thereon, and a yarn-carrier transfer mechanism at one end of the machine having a plurality of guide rails each adapted to carry a yarncarrier and being operable to position any guide rail in registration with the single guide rail so, tha-tv a yarn-carrier may be moved baclr andv forthV upon and from one transfer guide' rail tothe single guide rail and vice versa, such operation of the transfer device serving to substitute one'of its guide rails for another in registration with the Asingle guide rail, the driver head serving to reciprocate any yarn-carrier in a strolre in which the yarn-carrier moves upon and between the main guide rail and a transfer guide rail, the transfer mechanism being operable when the driver Vhead is at vhe transfer end of its stroke to substitute one guide rail for another, whereby to move one yarn-carrier out of cooperative relation with the driver head and another intosuch relation. Y

13. In a knitting machine having opposed parallel beds of needles, a single yarn-carrier rail supported in a stationary position above said beds of needles, transfer mechanism having a plurality of supplemental yarn-carrier rails adapted to be respectively moved into longitudinal alignment with lthe stationary rail at one end thereof to form a substantially continuous swpport for a yarncarrier so that it may be moved Without interruption back and forth from one rail to the other, a series of yarn-carriers adapted to be respectively supported on one of said supplemental rails during a non-active period and to be transferred onto the stationary rail from a positonin alignment therewith for operation during an active period, means for causing said transfer mechanism to position any one of its supplemental rails in alignment With the stationary rail, and means for reciprocating a yarn-carrier on the stationary rail.

In Witness of the foregoing I aiHX my signature.

WALTER F. ROLSTON. 

